The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-25
HOW THEY HANDLED FUNDS
More Tricks in Finances by Democrat
ic State officers Brought to Light.
The Extravaganza and Recklessness in the
Management of State Funds That Caused
the Exhaustion of the General Fund.

IL there was not criminal recklessness in the
management of the States funds during the sst
,our years of the Democratic regime some of the
financial transactions were peculiar, to say the
east. The Republicans managed well as to
cave a large balance in the general fund They
began their last fiscal year with balance in
that fund Oct. 81, 1881, of 1918 228 % During
the fiscal year of 1882. ending Oct. 81 they had
charge of general fund receipts from all sources
Of 81, 260, 401. Ga which, with the balance, gave
the fund 81. 538. 629. &C. The disbursements for
3he same period were 81, 436, 900 TO- so the gen.
,ral fund, Oct. 81, 1882 had balance when the
fiscal year closed of $10l, 729 q. This
vas about month and a half
before the December revenues were available
When these revenues came in the treasury was
we'll supplied and so the Republicans left 1t
when the Democrats took possession of the OF
ices of Auditor and Treasurer Of State IN Janu-
AIRY, 1883 On the 3lst of that month the gen.
oral fund balance was $500 1876 r. Nine months
later, at the end of the fiscal year OF 1883, the
Democratic officials had not only succeeded In
,xhausting that large balance, but had
ased the additional moneys that
came to them in the May settlements
with the county treasurers and from
other sources After having command
1
iraft in the general fund of 81. 144OS At the
md of the fiscal year in 1884, they caught up a
little and presented a small balance of $26 O3617
The next year they advanced few thousand
dollars in this showing and had balance of
s54 700 16 This was at the end of the fiscal
year in 1885, during which the general fund re-
seived in addition to the balance OF $26. 036.l7
standing at tho close of the preceding year 3d.
Bel 4O4. 60; or. in all, the Democrats had in 1885
Tor general fund disbursements 80. 3S7.4 40 II.
Out of this they expended So. 1872. 73l. 61 The
receipts Of 1885, including the balance of the
preceding year, were 1916, 80 81 in excess OF
those of 1882, which also cover the balance or
t278, 228 % brought from 1881.
In searching for the of this ex cess It is
found that in the summer of 1888 the general
fund had not only been exhausted but that to
seplensh it the counties were called upon TO
make advance payments in anticipation of rev.
enues that legally belonged to the Subsequent
6scal year IL helping out the general fund I'M
der Democratic control, the counties advanced
s249, 646, for which they got credit in the De-
cember settlement following. At that time In
paying in money to the State treasury for the
States expenses for 1886. they deducted the $249.
SAG which had been paid for the expenses
Of 1885, Another item of increase charged to
,hese increased receipts is a 5000, 600 temporary
loan, which represents refundlng transaction
At per cent on a previous loan of that amount
Including the balance of S34, 700 16 at the close
of the year 1885. the receipts for the fiscal year
ending Oct 81, 1886, were 81, 9lb, 6b4 10. Ot
this amount 81, S62 100 40 represented the actual
revenue of the general fund in that year In
obtaining this $427 GA 06 was advanced by
counties, and reduced that much the revenues
Of the last Decent Der settlement, which should
be accounted for in this fiscal years receipts.
During 1886 the amount paid out Of the general
fund was ST. ST.. 474. 60, leaving apparent bal
ance OF $39, 800. r.
1t has been shown that during 1886 the gen.
oral fund was exhausted aud that to support it
the October interest in the non-negotiable
aohO and hon Aa Aafa y1nfiI har
and the money used to meet current demands.
In the meantime the Democratic officials had
the additional money of 1927. ga 06 advanced by
counties from the revenues due in December
last. Deferrng the October interest of $l17.-
lab 40 until December and using the 1927, ga 06
advanced by counties in all $544. Z55, charge
the general fund for the current fiscal year with
moneys that do not belong to it. Instead of the
apparent balance of 500 900 in October last there
was a deficit of great amount
There another interesting feature of Demo
cratic mismauaRement. 1t appears in the
eral appropriations for the construction of the
new insane hospitals In all, 81, 100, 434 80 was
appropriated for that work, but in January,
1856 bills on this account were allowed amount
ing to 1913. O47 81 They were paid, because
The Democratic officials said they bad funds,
but at the end of the fiscal year 1885 the
amount OF the appropriations undrawn was
S404 424 90 Two months later the Dem
the warrants issued for the 1913. 04z5l. hence
they hawked about the State in search
of purch agers until they were presented for pay
ment and Cancelled during the current fiscal
wear. Hence account of Democratic mis-
management $2l3, 81 that ought have
been paid in 1886. paid in 1887. All these
financial operations have succeeded in again
haustiDg the general fund, which cannot be re-
plenished unless another call is made on the
counties or until the December revenues are due.